DIRECTIVE 03 OF 2025: TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF COURTROOMS LABOUR COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA, JOHANNESBURG

This Directive is effective 2 January 2026

Contents

  1. Administrative Operations and the Registrar’s Office.
  2. Trial Hearings (open court)
  3. Motion Hearings.
  4. Urgent applications.

Introduction

This directive addresses the impact of the ongoing renovations at the Labour Court premises in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The renovations are expected to be completed by June 2026. Accordingly, the following directives apply to the seating of the Labour Court, Johannesburg, and the Judge President has established the following arrangements for the matters set out below.

1. Administrative Operations and the Registrar’s Office

1.1. All administrative functions will be relocated to the 5th Floor of the same building at 86 Juta Street, Braamfontein.

1.2. Functions related to the Office of the Registrar will also be located on the 5th Floor starting 2 January 2026. The available services will include front desk services (filing, Court Online, enrolment and general enquiries)

1.3. No physical court proceedings will take place at the Braamfontein premises until renovations are completed.

2. Trial Hearings (open court)

2.1. The Judge President has directed that all trial proceedings will be conducted at the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg.

2.2. The trial roll call in terms of Rule 32(1) will be held at 09:45 every Friday for all trial proceedings scheduled for the following week, covering both Monday and Thursday matters.

2.3. The roll call will be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams. The Judge’s clerk will set up the platform, and parties will receive invitations well in advance of each Friday session.

2.4. During the virtual roll call, matters will be allocated to a Judge, and parties will be informed of the designated courtroom, either 8C, 8D, or 8E, in the High Court building at Pritchard Street & Kruis Street, Johannesburg, 2001.

3. Motion Hearings

Unopposed motion (open court)

3.1. All unopposed motions, contempt applications, and interlocutory proceedings will be heard at the Land Court, located at 18 Hill Street, Ferndale, Randburg, 2194.

Opposed motion

3.2. All opposed proceedings shall be heard virtually.

3.3. Measures have been put in place to assist unrepresented or indigent litigants to have access to virtual facilities on the 5th floor at 86 Juta Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. They must, however, notify the Judge’s clerk at least one day before the set-down date that such facilities will be needed.

Pretoria North Magistrate Court hearings

3.4. Motion Court matters enrolled in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court will continue to be heard in open court.

4. Urgent applications

4.1. All urgent applications will be heard virtually on Microsoft Teams.

4.2. Measures have been put in place to provide unrepresented and indigent litigants with access to virtual facilities on the 5th floor at 86 Juta Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Prior notice to the Judge’s clerk will also be required.

Judge E. Molahlehi

Judge President of Labour and Labour Appeal Courts of South Africa

17 December 2025